There is an old saying, "You can’t fight City Hall." While it explicitly targets those of us in municipal government, it implicitly applies to any government, giant corporation or other large entity.

It’s also wrong.

To win this fight, citizens opposed to APS spent the better part of a year organizing themselves and attending City Council meetings and state hearings. They coordinated their presentations to avoid repetition, but demonstrated their numbers by showing up in red shirts. They persuaded the City Council and, ultimately, the state commission to back their position.

Likewise, residents of Ventana Lakes used coordinated appearances before City Council to drive home the need to reroute gravel trucks that bring noise and exhaust to their neighborhood. Alas, this isn’t something that can be done overnight, but we were persuaded to include financing to address the issue in the bond package voters approved last fall.

An individual can make himself or herself heard as well. The City Council meets regularly on the first and third Tuesdays of each month at 7 p.m. in the City Council Chamber, located at 8401 W. Monroe St. in front of City Hall. All City Council meetings are open to the public, and citizens may speak during the Call to the Public near the end. Rules prevent the councilmembers and me from responding directly, but we’re listening. Some folks who demonstrate their civic concern at City Council meetings go on to attend the Peoria Leadership Institute; serve on various city boards, commissions or advisory committees; and/or run for political office.